James stanley



(No Model.)

J. STANLEY.

CARRIAGE TOP PROP BLOGK.

No. 296,240. Patented Apr. l, 1884.

f5 A ;\',ITLIFL Nrrn STATES arrivi? @rtreee J AMES STANLEY, OF NENARK, NEW' JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO LILLLAN LEMASSENA.

CARRIAGE-TOP-PRCP BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 296,240, dated April l, 1884.

Application filed May 9, 1883.

To @ZZ whom, if; may cancel/'72,.-

Be it known that l, JAMES STANLEY, a citt zen of the United States, `residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in `Carriage Prop-Blocks and Means for Forming the Same; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, lsuch as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked there on, which 'form a part of this specication.

IThis invention relates to certain improvements in top-prop blocks, and to the process of producing the same, it having for its object the reduction of the cost of production and to increase the durability and improve the iinish of the article produced;

The invention consists in the improved topprop block constructed as set forth hereinafter, and nall y embodied in the several clauses of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts in each of the several figures, Figure 1 illustrates an introductory step in the process of manufacturing atop-prop block. Fig. 2 is an 'end view of top-prop block after it has been wrapped. Fig. 3 shows the saine after it has passed through a set of rollers. Fig. 4 illus` trates said rollers and the process of pressing the top-prop blocks into shape; and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a portion of a block, showing a series of tacks therein.

The top-prop blocks now in ordinary use, which have a similar contour, are formed of wood, rubber, and of other material, but are for various reasons defective. For example, the wooden blocks are extremely liable to shrink and split, and thus be rendered useless for the purpose. There they have been made of rubber, the elastic nature of the same interferes with the retention of the lustrous finish, a japan coating upon the rubber soon cracking to such an extent as to make a material contrast between the block and the adjacent japanned parts oi' the vehicle. Furthermore, said rubber cannot practically bejapanned, as

(No model.)

the japanning process requires a degree of heat that will cause the rubber to melt or become viscid. Thus the rubber block is not adapted to receive the high finish resembling that of the body of the carriage, such as the improv ed block possesses.

In carrying out myinvention I wrap astrip or strips or scraps of leather, a, around a bar, b, as shown in Fig. l, as many times as the desired size oi' block may require. After the leather has been wrapped several times, I insert a strip of rubber, c, or other elastic strip,

either round, dat, or half-round, and their continue the wrapping until the full size is reached. One or both sides of the strip of leather is covered with paste or other adhesive substance, so that the wrappings,when pressed and dried, will unite and forni one solid roll. After the leather has been wrapped or rolled around the bar, the roll is passed through the rollers, of the peculiar construction shown in Fig. 4, whichl rolls press the several parts or wrappings into intimate and continuous contact, the 'bar b acting to keep the shape ofthe longitudinal opening in the roll of wra ppi'ngs.

The elastic strip may be dispensed with, 4if desired, although I prefer to retain the same in the top-prop, as it gives sufficient without an excess ofl elasticity.

IVhenheretofore a solid rubber longitudinal ridge has been arranged on the block for the bow to engage with, a strap has been usually arranged to hold the bows in place and prevent damage liable to result from an excess of elasticity in the cushion formed by said rib. With my improved device such a strap is rendered unnecessary, for, although a certain amount of elasticity is provided by the peculiar arrangement of leather and rubber, not

enough is supplied to cause the bows to be` terior coating also cements any loose edges of the outer layers of leather, and makes a hard, t durable, and finished block.

IOO

Tacks, as n, may be driven into the block, as indicated, to keep the parts together and to keep the ridge from spreading. After being driven, said tacks are covered by the nishing coating, and thus concealed from view.

Although the process and machine for producing the peculiar prop-blocks are described in this specification, I do not claim the saine herein, as said process and machine form the subject-matter of a distinct application pending contemporaneously with this. The generic claim for the block composed of leather enwrapments is also reserved, and is embodied in another contemporaneous application.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. A prop-block cylindrical in shape, With a longitudinal projecting ridge, d, thereon, formed of pieces of leather pressed and pasted into shape, and having a rubber core-piece, c,

arranged in the projection thereof, substan- 2o 

